Evaluating the role of the oil and gas industry in energy transition in oil-producing countries: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Due to its many advantages, the energy transition is seen as an alternative to the growing demand for net zero emissions worldwide. This process requires major adjustments in energy supply and consumption, making it necessary to balance access to secure, affordable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible energy while respecting global climate objectives and contextualising them in each country's socio-economic and environmental circumstances. Unlike developed countries, underdeveloped nations will continue to depend on oil revenues to develop their economies. Research on approaching energy transition in these countries is still scarce. This study aims to explore the role of the oil and gas industry in the energy transition in oil-producing countries from a geographical point of view, strategic perspectives, public policies and possible national and industrial oil and gas strategies that could be adopted. A systematic literature review structured in two phases is used: i) a comprehensive and conceptual framework on energy transition and ii) an analysis of the oil and gas industry articles based on the framework proposed. The first phase proposes a framework for classifying the dimensions of the energy transition to be considered, which is used in the second phase to analyse articles related to oil and gas. The first phase's conceptual framework proposes six dimensions: social, economic, environmental, technological, political and institutional/governance. The results of the second phase showed that the technological dimension is the most studied among the six dimensions. A total of 12 papers focus on nationwide energy transition strategies.